Lieutenant William James Fisher, Civil War Soldier

Kind Sir:

I received your kind and welcome letter of August 26th.

I shall relate the circumstances as correct as I can in regard of your son, what was killed at the battle of Gettysburg.

I was not with him when he was killed. I was on the pioneer party but was there soon after the battle and saw his body, the third one I saw.

He was carried back behind the hill and laid down there until the battle was over. Then he was removed to the house near where he was buried. He lay from about five in the evening until about 8 in the morning.

I was one of the men sent to bury him.

He, as near as I could tell, was shot just below his heart on the left side. The ball passed out at his right side below his belt.

Apparently he had died early for he was as natural as when he was alive only paler. All that see him said he was the prettiest corpse they ever saw.

He was wrapped up in a clean blanket and laid carefully in his grave such as it was.

The paper that was on his Headboard I got Captain Bush to write it down so there would be no mistake. I then put it on with some pins. I then thought the rain might wash it off. I then marked the head board below the paper and that did not suit me for I thought as much of him as if he had been my brother.

I then went where they had been some wagons camped and I found a piece of a cigar box. I then cut out the letters with my pocket knife and then marked them with my pencil so they might be seen plain.

He was greatly missed in the company; In fact in the whole Regiment.

The first battle I was with him was at Fredericksburg, the 13th of December last.

He was as cool in the battle as he was out of it. And as brave a man as there is in the Regiment. There was not one man in the Regiment but what thought a great deal of him. When on duty with him, he wasn’t crass like some of them. He was kind and genteel to all to us. I wish he was here with us now. Most of the time, when the rest of the officers was playing, he would stand and look at them. He was always the same way.

He always appeared to be with Lt. Hamilton more than any other one, another nice and kind man.

I was with him at the battle of Chancellorsville.

He was always the same man and called a brave officer by all that knew him.

I have the handkerchief that he gave to me at Camp near Fredericksburg after crossing the Potomac following after the Rebels before the battle of Gettysburg.

I also have a clasp of a belt that he wore out and gave me before we left camp near Falmouth which I shall keep as long as I have my health. He was always kind to me.

The Sergeant McCabe you spoke of is nearly well. He is with the Company now. He is first sergeant of the Company I now belong to.

Since we left the field, the Regiment has been put into two companies, G & D. I am now transferred to Co. G.

You asked how long he lived after he was struck. I could not say for I wasn’t bye him at the time. He was dead at the time I first saw him. He could not of lived over twenty minutes. He was shot, I think, with one of those long balls with a hollow in the butt of them for that was the kind they was shooting.

Well, I will have to close, for I have given you all the news; I can’t think of more.

This leaves me in the best of health at present; hoping those few lines may find you enjoying the same great Blessing willed to us by God.

No more at present but, Remain your obedient friend

John H. Buchan, Co. G, 10th U. S. Infantry

Fourth Avenue between 93 & 94 St., New York

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